Cayo life is one of filled with relaxation, good food, healthy mountain air and great people. Though the area has a growing tourism market, it feels anything but touristy. Locals mix easily with visitors and foreign residents, and friends are made very quickly at places like the San Ignacio market which has quickly become a weekend meeting place with an eclectic mix of fresh produce, food stalls, and just about any odd assortment of wares for sale, or at any number of street side cafés on burn’s avenue or even in the river on a balmy afternoon.

The Cayo district boasts one of the most pristine natural environments in Belize. Its multiple rivers, streams and waterways irrigate fertile soil and lush rainforests with gorgeous rolling hills that provide vistas that remind of storybook settings in idyllic nature. The limestone hills are pocketed with cave systems, many of which are ancient burial sites for past maya civilisations. During the dry season, the slow meandering rivers are emerald green and a cool 75º, perfect for an afternoon dip or a slow canoe of inner-tube float with your favourite beverage. Bird are abundant in every setting, including toucans, macaws, and just about every colour of species of parrot you can imagine. In the cool months, an early Cayo morning at Chial reserve involves a cup of fresh brewed coffee with a bowl of fresh local fruit on your deck with a view of mountains trimmed with a light morning mist rising from the forest floor.